Rebimbas lauds working group

HARTFORD — State Rep. Rosa Rebimbas (R-70) applauded the formation of a legislative public-private working group to study ways to spread the word about Connecticut’s Safe Havens law.

The group is made up of representatives from Connecticut hospitals, universities, state agencies and media outlets.

The Safe Havens program was enacted in 2000 to encourage young, distressed women to bring their infant babies to hospital rooms rather than abandon them. Under the law, the parent may voluntarily give up the baby when it is up to 30 days old to the staff of an emergency room. The child will be cared for and turned over to the Department of Children and Families DCF. The mother, with anonymity, will receive a matching wrist band for her and the baby. If she changes her mind in the next 30 days she has the opportunity to come back and get her child.

“Connecticut’s Safe Havens law exists to protect both mother and baby in the most dire situations, and while this law has been proven to work, we must continue to spread the word so frightened women know they have a place to turn without fear of prosecution,” Rebimbas said in a press release. “Sadly, just [Aug. 12] another Connecticut mother did the unthinkable and by the time police found the baby it was too late.”

Since the effective date, 23 “Safe Haven” babies have been brought to an emergency room under the law according to DCF, the release stated.

Here’s 16 year old Sam Hatmaker, Knoxville, Tennessee, who will be making dozens of media appearances on demographic targeted radio – especially country music radio, web and TV platforms: http://youtu.be/qtmypoHp3Vw